Justice News

Illegal Alien Arrested For Unlawfully Returning To The United States After Prior Drug Convictions

NEWARK, N.J. – A man from the Dominican Republic who was previously convicted of federal and state drug crimes made his initial court appearance today on charges he unlawfully returned to the United States, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Francisco Nicholas Brito, a/k/a “Nicholas Brito,” a/k/a “Jose,” 51, is charged by complaint with one count of aggravated illegal re-entry into the United States. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge James B. Clark III and was detained.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Brito illegally re-entered the United States after being deported to the Dominican Republic following a 46-month prison sentence in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and a five-year prison sentence in New Jersey for committing drug crimes. After his deportations, Brito illegally re-entered the country and was found in New Jersey, where he was located and arrested in June 2018.

The count of illegal re-entry carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited deportation officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), under Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lakshmi Srinivasan Herman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.